Dolores Gauci

Dolores is the narrator of the book, a small child at the beginning and a woman of middle age at the end. Dolores is the sixth of six daughters, unwanted in a family that can barely take care of the children they have, let alone another. When Dolores becomes injured at barely one month of age, her parents become ashamed and afraid of her. Dolores often does not attend school because of the phantom pains she feels in her hand where her fingers once were. Mary hesitates to send her out on errands though she does with the other children on a nearly daily basis. This makes Dolores feel overprotected when in reality she is hidden away.

Dolores grows up to be a librarian. She is raised as an only child by foster parents and given every opportunity in life. Dolores holds on to her past, however...